This is a list of named geological features on Saturn's moon Titan. Official names for these features have only been announced since the 2000s, as Titan's surface was virtually unknown before the arrival of the Cassini–Huygens probe.[1][2] Some features were known by informal nicknames beforehand; these names are noted where appropriate. Note that some features with a physical size given by "diameter" may not be circular; then the number refers to the length.[note 1]
Albedo features on Titan are named after sacred or enchanted places in world mythologies and literature.[3]
Name | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named After | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adiri | 10°S 210°W / 10°S 210°W / -10; -210 (Adiri) | 0 | 2006 | Adiri, Melanesian paradise[4] | WGPSN |
Dilmun | 15°N 175°W / 15°N 175°W / 15; -175 (Dilmun) | 0 | 2006 | Dilmun, Sumerian heaven | WGPSN |
Quivira | 0°N 15°W / 0°N 15°W / 0; -15 (Quivira) | 0 | 2006 | Quivira, legendary city in southwestern America | WGPSN |
Tsegihi | 40°S 10°W / 40°S 10°W / -40; -10 (Tsegihi) | 0 | 2006 | Tsegihi, Navajo sacred place | WGPSN |
Xanadu | 15°S 100°W / 15°S 100°W / -15; -100 (Xanadu) | 3400 | 2006 | Xanadu, an imaginary palace in Coleridge's Kubla Khan | WGPSN |
Name | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named After | Informal Name | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aaru | 10°N 340°W / 10°N 340°W / 10; -340 (Aaru) | 0 | 2006 | Aaru, Egyptian paradise | WGPSN | |
Aztlan | 10°S 20°W / 10°S 20°W / -10; -20 (Aztlan) | 0 | 2006 | Aztlán, mythical Aztec homeland | Southern part of 'Lying H' | WGPSN |
Belet | 5°S 255°W / 5°S 255°W / -5; -255 (Belet) | 0 | 2006 | Belet, Malay paradise | WGPSN | |
Ching-tu | 30°S 205°W / 30°S 205°W / -30; -205 (Ching-tu) | 0 | 2006 | Ching-tu, Chinese Buddhist paradise | WGPSN | |
Fensal | 5°N 30°W / 5°N 30°W / 5; -30 (Fensal) | 0 | 2006 | Fensalir, Norse heavenly mansion | Northern part of 'Lying H' | WGPSN |
Mezzoramia | 70°S 0°W / 70°S -0°E / -70; -0 (Mezzoramia) | 0 | 2006 | Mezzoramia, African oasis of happiness from Italian legend | WGPSN | |
Senkyo | 5°S 320°W / 5°S 320°W / -5; -320 (Senkyo) | 0 | 2006 | Senkyo, Japanese paradise | WGPSN | |
Shangri-La | 10°S 165°W / 10°S 165°W / -10; -165 (Shangri-La) | 0 | 2006 | Shangri-La, Tibetan paradise | WGPSN |
Titanean arcūs (arc-shaped features) are named after deities of happiness.[5]
Name | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named After | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hotei Arcus | 28°S 79°W / 28°S 79°W / -28; -79 (Hotei Arcus) | 600 | 2006 | Hotei, Japanese god | WGPSN |
Colles are small hills or knobs which are named after characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.[6]
Name | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named After | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arwen Colles | 7°30′S 250°00′W / 7.5°S 250.0°W / -7.5; -250.0 (Arwen) | 64 | 19 December 2012 | Arwen, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy | WGPSN |
Bilbo Colles | 4°12′S 38°36′W / 4.2°S 38.6°W / -4.2; -38.6 (Bilbo) | 164 | 19 December 2012 | Bilbo Baggins, titular character of Tolkien's The Hobbit | WGPSN |
Faramir Colles | 4°00′N 153°48′W / 4.0°N 153.8°W / 4.0; -153.8 (Faramir) | 82 | 19 December 2012 | Faramir, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy | WGPSN |
Gandalf Colles | 14°36′N 209°30′W / 14.6°N 209.5°W / 14.6; -209.5 (Gandalf) | 102 | 20 July 2015 | Gandalf, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy | WGPSN |
Handir Colles | 10°00′N 356°42′W / 10.0°N 356.7°W / 10.0; -356.7 (Handir) | 100 | 19 December 2012 | Handir, character from Tolkien's The Silmarillion | WGPSN |
Nimloth Colles | 11°54′N 151°18′W / 11.9°N 151.3°W / 11.9; -151.3 (Nimloth) | 90 | 19 December 2012 | Nimloth, name of a character and a tree from Tolkien's Middle-Earth | WGPSN |
Craters on Titan are named after deities of wisdom.[7]
Faculae (bright spots) are named after islands on Earth that are not politically independent.[8] Groups of faculae are named after archipelagos on Earth.
The term "fluctus" refers to flow terrain. Fluctūs on Titan are named after mythological figures associated with beauty.[9]
Fluctus | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ara Fluctus | 39°48′N 118°24′W / 39.8°N 118.4°W / 39.8; -118.4 (Ara Fluctus) | 70 | 2 March 2007 | Ara the Beautiful, Armenian legendary figure | WGPSN |
Leilah Fluctus | 50°30′N 77°48′W / 50.5°N 77.8°W / 50.5; -77.8 (Leilah Fluctus) | 190 | 2 March 2007 | Layla, Persian goddess | WGPSN |
Mohini Fluctus | 11°47′S 38°32′W / 11.78°S 38.53°W / -11.78; -38.53 (Mohini) | 347 | 13 November 2012 | Mohini, Indian goddess of beauty and magic | WGPSN |
Rohe Fluctus | 47°18′N 37°45′W / 47.3°N 37.75°W / 47.3; -37.75 (Rohe Fluctus) | 103 | 2 March 2007 | Rohe, Māori goddess | WGPSN |
Winia Fluctus | 49°00′N 46°00′W / 49.0°N 46.0°W / 49.0; -46.0 (Winia Fluctus) | 300 | 2 March 2007 | Winia, Indonesian first woman | WGPSN |
A flumen is a feature that looks like a channel carved by liquid. Flumina refers to a network of rivers. Some flumina are not found near liquid bodies, which are labelled as "dry valley". They are named after mythical or imaginary rivers.[10]
A fretum (plural freta) is a strait of liquid connecting two larger liquid bodies. They are named after characters from the Foundation series of science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov.[12]
Fretum | Coordinates | Length (km)[note 1] | Approval Date | Named after | Informal name | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bayta Fretum | 73°00′N 311°12′W / 73°N 311.2°W / 73; -311.2 (Bayta Fretum) | 165 | 19 January 2015 | Bayta Darell, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, wife of the Trader Toran Darell and grandmother of famous author Arcadia Darell. | WGPSN | |
Hardin Fretum | 57°18′N 317°48′W / 57.3°N 317.8°W / 57.3; -317.8 (Hardin Fretum) | 246 | 19 January 2015 | Salvor Hardin, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, first Mayor of the planet Terminus. | WGPSN | |
Seldon Fretum | 66°00′N 316°36′W / 66°N 316.6°W / 66; -316.6 (Seldon Fretum) | 67 | 19 January 2015 | Hari Seldon, the fictional, intellectual hero of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, First Minister of the Galactic Empire. | 'Throat of Kraken'[13] | WGPSN |
Trevize Fretum | 74°24′N 269°54′W / 74.4°N 269.9°W / 74.4; -269.9 (Trevize Fretum) | 173 | 19 January 2015 | Golan Trevize, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, councilman of the planet Terminus. | WGPSN |
Insulae are islands within Titan's seas. They are named after legendary islands.[14]
Labyrinthi (complexes of intersecting valleys or ridges)[15] on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[16][17]
Lacunae are dark areas with the appearance of dry lake beds, which are named after intermittent lakes on Earth.[18]
Lacūs (plural form of lacus used in Titan geological nomenclature) are hydrocarbon lakes.[19]
Large ring features are named after deities of wisdom in world mythology.[20]
Ring feature | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guabonito | 10°54′S 150°48′W / 10.9°S 150.8°W / -10.9; -150.8 (Guabonito) | 55 | 2006 | Guabonito, Taíno sea goddess | WGPSN |
Nath | 30°30′S 7°42′W / 30.5°S 7.7°W / -30.5; -7.7 (Nath) | 95 | 2006 | Irish goddess of wisdom | WGPSN |
Paxsi | 5°00′N 341°12′W / 5.0°N 341.2°W / 5.0; -341.2 (Paxsi) | 120 | 15 October 2010 | Aymara goddess of the moon and wisdom | WGPSN |
Veles | 2°00′N 137°18′W / 2.0°N 137.3°W / 2.0; -137.3 (Veles) | 45 | 2006 | Veles, Slavic god | WGPSN |
Titanean maculae (dark spots) are named after deities of happiness, peace, and harmony in world mythology.[21]
Macula | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eir Macula | 24°00′S 114°42′W / 24.0°S 114.7°W / -24.0; -114.7 (Eir Macula) | 145 | 2006 | Eir, Norse goddess. | WGPSN |
Elpis Macula | 31°12′N 27°00′W / 31.2°N 27.0°W / 31.2; -27.0 (Elpis Macula) | 500 | 2006 | Elpis, Greek god | WGPSN |
Ganesa Macula | 50°00′N 87°18′W / 50.0°N 87.3°W / 50.0; -87.3 (Ganesa Macula) | 160 | 2006 | Ganesa, Hindu god | WGPSN |
Genetaska Macula | 23°30′N 196°18′W / 23.5°N 196.3°W / 23.5; -196.3 (Genetaska Macula) | 24 | 20 July 2015 | Genetaska, Peace Queen of the Iroquois | WGPSN |
Omacatl Macula | 17°36′N 37°12′W / 17.6°N 37.2°W / 17.6; -37.2 (Omacatl Macula) | 225 | 2006 | Omacatl, Aztec god. | WGPSN |
Polaznik Macula | 41°06′S 280°24′W / 41.1°S 280.4°W / -41.1; -280.4 (Polaznik Macula) | 346.90 | 5 April 2010 | Polaznik, Slavic god | WGPSN |
Polelya Macula | 50°00′N 56°00′W / 50.0°N 56.0°W / 50.0; -56.0 (Polelya Macula) | 175 | 2 March 2007 | Polelya, Slavic god | WGPSN |
Maria (plural of mare) are hydrocarbon seas.[22]
Mountains are named after mountains from the fictional Middle-Earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien.[23]
Paterae are caldera or deep-wall craters with a possible volcanic origin. Sotra Patera was formerly named Sotra Facula, which followed the naming theme for Faculae.[24]Nonomenclature currently exists for this class of features on Titan.
Patera | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sotra Patera | 12°30′S 39°48′W / 12.5°S 39.8°W / -12.5; -39.8 (Sotra Facula) | 40 | 19 December 2012 | Sotra, Norwegian island | WGPSN |
Planitiae (low plains) on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[16][25]
Regiones (regions distinctly different from their surroundings) are named after deities of peace and happiness.[26]
Regio | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Concordia Regio | 20°00′S 241°00′W / 20.0°S 241.0°W / -20.0; -241.0 (Concordia Regio) | 1500 | 5 January 2012 | Concordia, the Roman goddess of divinity and harmony | WGPSN |
Hetpet Regio | 22°00′S 292°00′W / 22.0°S 292.0°W / -22.0; -292.0 (Hetpet Regio) | 1080 | 5 January 2012 | Hetpet, the Egyptian personification of happiness | WGPSN |
Hotei Regio | 26°00′S 78°00′W / 26.0°S 78.0°W / -26.0; -78.0 (Hotei Regio) | 500 | 7 May 2009 | Budai, Chinese/Japanese god | WGPSN |
Ochumare Regio | 10°24′N 348°06′W / 10.4°N 348.1°W / 10.4; -348.1 (Ochumare Regio) | 939 | 14 September 2017 | Ochumare, Puertan Rican goddess of happiness and weather | WGPSN |
Tui Regio | 24°30′S 124°54′W / 24.5°S 124.9°W / -24.5; -124.9 (Tui Regio) | 1200 | 2006 | Tui, Chinese goddess. | WGPSN |
Sinus (bays) within seas or lakes are named after terrestrial bays, coves, fjords or inlets.[27]
Terrae are extensive landmasses. As with the albedo features, they are named after sacred and enchanted locations from cultures across the world.[29]
Terra | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garotman Terra | 13°30′S 348°00′W / 13.5°S 348.0°W / -13.5; -348.0 (Garotman Terra) | 970 | 5 January 2012 | Garotman, the Iranian paradise that the souls of faithful men inhabit | WGPSN |
Tollan Terra | 6°24′N 322°42′W / 6.4°N 322.7°W / 6.4; -322.7 (Tollan Terra) | 800 | 5 January 2012 | Tollan, the Aztec paradise where crops never wilt | WGPSN |
Tsiipiya Terra | 2°50′N 340°07′W / 2.83°N 340.12°W / 2.83; -340.12 (Tsiipiya Terra) | 573.24 | 24 August 2017 | Tsiipiya, the Hopi name for Mount TaylorinNew Mexico, USA | WGPSN |
Yalaing Terra | 19°30′S 324°00′W / 19.5°S 324.0°W / -19.5; -324.0 (Yalaing Terra) | 980 | 5 January 2012 | Yalaing, the Australian spirit land for good souls with clean water and game | WGPSN |
Undae are dune fields. On Titan they are named after Greek deities of wind.[30]
Undae | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Approval Date | Named after | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aura Undae | 13°47′N 226°52′W / 13.79°N 226.86°W / 13.79; -226.86 (Aura Undae) | 490 | 20 July 2015 | Aura, goddess of the morning wind. | WGPSN |
Boreas Undae | 6°S 215°W / 6°S 215°W / -6; -215 (Boreas Undae) | 260 | 5 December 2011 | Boreas, Greek god of the north wind. | WGPSN |
Eurus Undae | 7°30′S 210°18′W / 7.5°S 210.3°W / -7.5; -210.3 (Eurus Undae) | 220 | 5 December 2011 | Eurus, Greek personification of the east wind. | WGPSN |
Notus Undae | 10°00′S 211°06′W / 10°S 211.1°W / -10; -211.1 (Notus Undae) | 530 | 5 December 2011 | Notus, Greek god of the south or southwest wind. | WGPSN |
Zephyrus Undae | 8°30′S 217°06′W / 8.5°S 217.1°W / -8.5; -217.1 (Zephyrus Undae) | 130 | 5 December 2011 | Zephyrus, Greek personification of the gentle west wind. | WGPSN |
Virgae (streaks of colour) are named after rain gods in world mythologies.[31]
Because the exact nature of many surface features remain mysterious, a number of features took time to receive formal names and are known by nicknames. In most cases, indications of brightness and darkness refer not to visible light, but to the infrared images used to look through Titan's obscuring haze.[32]
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